Tara Conner and Todd Bridges both shared their stories of addiction and redemption along with their latest projects, which include a show on A&E and new memoir.
Original Air Date:
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Guests:
- Tara Conner
- Todd Bridges
Show Summary:
Oprah welcomed former Miss USA Tara Conner and Diff'rent Strokes child star Todd Bridges to the show to share their stories of abuse, addiction, and redemption, as well as their latest projects.
Tara Conner was crowned Miss USA before nearly losing her position at the hand of Donald Trump who decided to give her a second chance to clean up her addiction. Using since she was a teen, Tara had to work on her feelings and deeper issues which will be featured in the A&E series Fame and Recovery.
Todd Bridges starred in the 80s hit series Diff'rent Strokes before he turned to a life of crime, drugs, addiction, and prison. After he made the choice to clean up his life, Todd still found that the media put him in the corner of his past
Special Highlights:
This episode featured the following highlights:
- Tara Conner won the Miss USA crown, but nearly had it taken from her before Donald Trump agreed to let her seek treatment. Using since a teen, Conner used her addiction cover up the pain of her parents divorce and being raped.
- Todd Bridges couldn't shake his public image of always being in trouble, so he wrote the book Killing Willis, a memoir, to show how he went from a successful show to the streets to a life he dreamed of.
What to Take Away from the Show:
Watching this episode of The Oprah Show was an eye opener for those living with addiction because of the way both guests were able to fight their way back to lives they can be proud of. While both Tara and Todd have faced possible jail time and loss of their career, both have been able to fight their way through by seeking or being forced into treatment. Tara encouraged anyone who has lived with addiction or been a part of is in some way, find a program that is focused on your need and seek help; no one can break the cycle of addiction alone. From Todd's interview he stated that he knows that he did something wrong nearly 18 years ago, but he would like a media redemption.
Products Featured in This Episode:
Todd Bridges - 'Killing Willis'
Killing Willis: From Diff'rent Strokes to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted the memoir from Todd Bridges discusses his television success as a child actor, the molestation he experienced in his youth, his downward spiral to drugs and alcohol, his time in jail and rehab, and his rise to a life his children can be proud of.